Garbage-incinerator.



PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. G. BRANCH. GARBAGE INGINBRATOR. APPLIOATION FILED mm: 22, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l 5/ v. QrQAWV N0. 805,256. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

' J. G. BRANCH.

GARBAGE INGINERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

GARBAGE-INCINERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed June 28,1905. Serial No. 267,413.

To all whom it ntcw concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. BRANCH, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Garbage-Incinerators, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to garbage-incinerators of that type embodyingwater-grates in operative relation to ordinary fire-grates and adaptedto receive the garbage and avoid dumping or depositing the latterdirectly on the fire or fire-brick of the furnace or furnaces.

The main advantages of the present construction of incinerator are thatthere is no odor or dust, but complete sanitation; no sorting orhandling of garbage at the plant required; no auxiliary furnace orchecker-work necessary; no swill or liquid garbage poured into thefurnace; no uneven distribution of heat in the furnace; no threadedjoints in the water-grates exposed to direct heat, and no waste of fuelthrough the stack, but all heat utilized for power purposes.

The incinerator plant is composed of two separate units or furnaces setat right angles to each other and so connected by a bypass that eitherone or both can be fired and the waste gases therefrom led under abattery of boilers for power purposes before escaping into the stack.The first unit or furnace is so connected with the second unit orfurnace that the gases and heat from the former are led into the latterimmediately in rear of the bridge-wall, thereby insuring completecombustion of all unconsumed particles of garbage and offensive gases.The two furnaces are provided with two separate sets of gratebars, oneabove the other, the upper gratebars being of the water type and of aparticular arrangement, and thereon the garbage is dumped. Thesewater-grates are connected at the sides of the furnaces to two headersand in the center to a single larger header. Through these headers andconnecting watergrates the feed-water is pumped to the boilers of thepower apparatus, thus securing a perfect circulation and preventing thegratebars from burning out. This arrangement also does away with thenecessity of a feed- .water heater for the boilers, and the water may betaken directly from a city main by a suitable connection with thetubular grates and from the latter pumped in heated condition to theboilers of the power apparatus.

The improved incinerator plant has other details of construction whichrender the same convenient in operation and efiective in performing thefunction desired, and among others may be particularly mentionedopenings for stoking the garbage on the upper or water grates andswillpans located in the ashpits under the lower grates, into which theliquid garbage may run and become evaporated by the heat of the furnaceitself.

Other advantages both from a standpoint of structure and operation willbe hereinafter more fully specified, and to demonstrate thepracticability of the improved incinerator plant a preferred form of theapparatus included therein is shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front side elevation of agarbage-incinerator plant embodying the features of the invention. Fig.2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 on a larger scale and showing the garbagereceiving and incinerating furnaces in section. Fig. 3 is a top planView of the plant, showing the garbageincinerating furnaces inhorizontal section. Fig. lis a detail section showing a portion of thesheet-metal inclosing casing for the incinerating-furnaces and theangle-iron structure for connecting the parts of said casing. Fig. 5 isan enlarged detail cross-section of one of the water-grates, showing themanner of constructing the latter.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The plant embodying the features of the invention preferably includes abattery of boilers 1, which are shown in the present instance as threein number and having as many furnaces 2 thereunder, the latter beingindividually communicative, through the medium of flue connections 3,with a main breeching or conduit 4 entering a stack at, which preferablyhas a considerable elevation. Cooperating with this battery of boilersand furnaces are incinerating-furnaces 5 and 6, particularly embodyingthe features of the invention and from either one or both of which theproducts of combustion and gases pass into the furnaces 2 under theboilers 1 to serve as a heating means for the boilers or as additionalfuel and to obstruct the escape thereof and the odors incidental theretofrom the stack into the surrounding atmosphere. This utilization of theproducts of combustion and gases from either one or both of theinclneratmg-furnaces 5 and 6 is economical in the generation of powerfor various mechanical uses, and by the use of this form of plant atwofold advantage is gained and consists in the consumption of garbage,cremation of dead bodies of animals and other refuse with perfectsanitation, and the employment of the residue gases and products ofcombustion as a heating means for power-generating apparatus.

Though the complete organization of the plant as just specified ispreferred, especially in large cities or municipalities, it will beunderstood that the incinerating-furnaces may at times be used alone anddirectly connected to a stack or to any other conduit medium.

The incinerating-furnaces or crematories 5 and 6 are duplicate inconstruction and arrangement of the elements included therein, and thefurnace 5 is disposed in a plane at right angles to the furnace 6,therear extremity of the said furnace 5 being formed as a part of the sidewall of the furnace 6, as at 7.

Each furnace 5 and 6 has an inclosing wall 8 of suitable thickness andmaterial and of sufficient strength to permit garbage and other vehiclesor receptacles to be moved on or over the top thereof for dumping ordeposit purposes. The top of each furnace at an intermediate point hasgarbage-receiving hoppers 9 adjacent to one side and at the oppositeside a dead-animal-receiving hopper 10 of greater diameter, the severalhoppers 9 and 10 being normally closed by tight-fitting caps or covers11. In the front extremity of each furnace is a suitably-archedbridge-wall 12, and below the plane of the same is a lire-grate 13 ofany preferred form and accessible by doors 14. Below the fire-grate 13the usual ash-pit 15 is provided and also rendered accessible by doors16. Immediately in advance of the bridgewall 12 and at an elevationabove the plane of the fire-grate 13 is a garbage or refuse receivinggrate composed of a series of downwardly-inclined tubular members 17connected at their outer ends to tubular headers 18, held in the sidewalls of the furnace, and at their inner ends to a depressed header 19,having a greater diameter than the headers 18. The tubular members orgrate-bars 17 and the headers 18 and 19 constitute a tubular grate,through which water circulates. The tubular garbage or refuse receivinggrate is disposed under the hoppers 9 and 10 and is accessiblefor'cleaning purposes through the medium of a rear door 20. The tubulargarbage or refuse receiving grate can also be readily reached forcleaning and other purposes by a series of doors 21 in the rear end ofthe furnace. As clearly shown by Fig. 2, the front extremities of thecentral and one side header are connected to a feed-water inlet 22,which may be attached to a city main or any other source of supply, andsecured to the rear terminal of the remaining side header and itscompanion header at the opposite porsoazse tion of the furnace is afeed-water outlet 23, adapted to be connected to the battery of boilersin any suitable manner to supply the said boilers with heated water andby this means dispensing with the necessity of a feedwater heater forthe boilers. A suitable pump may be used for forcing the water into theboilers from the outlet connection 23. Each furnace also has a series ofliquid-hoppers 2 1 at one side, which communicate at their lowerterminals with removable swill-pans 25, disposed transversely under thegarbage or refuse receiving grate or resting on the bottom of thefurnace. The swill or liquid which is deposited in the hoppers 2e andpasses into the pans 25 is evaporated by the heat of the furnace itself,and the gases generated by such evaporation of the swill or liquid passout with the remaining gases. At any time desired these pans can bequickly removed and cleaned. It is also frequently necessary to stokethe garbage or refuse on the tubular grates, and for this purposeopenings 26, having suitable covers, are formed in the sides of eachfurnace.

The fire-grates of the furnaces are of the ordinary type used for firingcoal and all made interchangeable throughout. In the construction of thetubular grates, including the members 17 and the headers 18- and 19, thesaid tubular members are first threaded into the lower or central headerl9 and then expanded into the upper side headers 18, thus exposing onlytwo threaded joints to the direct heat of the gases. The advantage ofhaving the tubular grates for receiving the garbage and other refusedownwardly inclined toward the center of the furnace is to bring thegarbage nearest to the greatest point of heat and at the same timeprevent clinkers from coming in contact with the sides of thehighly-heated furnace, to which under other conditions they wouldadhere.

As before noted, either one or both incinerating-furna'ces 5 and 6 maybe operated, and when both furnaces are in use the gases and products ofcombustion pass from the rear of the furnace 5 through an opening 27into the furnace 6 immediately in rear of the bridgewall 12 ofthe'latter and under the tubular garbage or refuse receiving grate ofthe said furnace 6. By this means the gases and products of combustionfrom the furnace 5 are more intensely heated and taken up in the furnace6 and pass, with the gases from the latter, through an opening 28 intothe adjacent furnace 2 under the first boiler 1 of the battery ofboilers and circulate under thesaid battery of boilers for heating thewater in the latter to produce steam and power and finally escape intothe main conduit or breeching 4 and then pass into the stack 1. Betweenthe rear portion of the inner side of the furnace 5 and the rearextremity of the adjacent side of the furnace 6 is a by-pass conduit orflue 29, having a damper 30 near the wall of the I connected byangle-irons 34:. The several defurnace 5. The opening 27, formingcommunication between the rear of the furnace 5 and the furnace 6, willalso be provided with a suitable damper 31 at times to control the jointoperation ofthe two incinerating-furnaces. When the twoincinerating-furnaces are in operation, the damper 30 of the bypass 29is closed, thereby forcing the gas and products of combustion from thefurnace 5 to pass into the furnace 6 directly in rear of the bridge-wall12 of the latter furnace, as heretofore explained. If the furnace 5alone is in operation, communication with the furnace 6 through themedium of the opening 27 is closed and the damper 3O opened, and undersuch arrangement the gases and products of combustion are liberated fromthe rear of the furnace 5 through the by-pass 29 and pass into the rearof the furnace 6 and then escape through the opening 28 into theadjacent furnace of the battery of boilers. It is also possible to usethe furnace 6 alone without operating the furnace 5, and under theseconditions the dampers 30 and 31 will be closed. When both furnaces arein operation, it will be obvious that the incinerating capacity of theplant is materially increased and the gases and products of combustionpassing into the furnaces 2 of the battery of boilers 1 have aconsiderable volume, with increased effectiveness as a heating means forsaid battery of boilers. At the rear of each furnace, as clearly shownby Figs. 1 and 2, an offset or break 32 is provided which forces thegases from the upper garbage or refuse receiving grates to pass downinto the lower portion of the furnaces before escaping from the latter.By this means the unconsumed gases from the upper, cooler, and shorterfurnace are forced down into the hotter and longer furnace below, whereall gases are mingled and entirely consumed before being discharged fromthe first furnace into the second or from the second furnace into theboiler-furnaces, thus insuring more perfect combustion and aiding thedraft. Furthermore, by introducing the heated gases immediately in rearof the bridgewall of the furnace 6 both the combustion and draft aregreatly increased. This same point of introduction of the gases willalso be carried out with respect to the furnace 2 under the first boiler1.

It is proposed to use either natural or mechanical draft in connectionwith the furnaces, it being preferred to employ mechanical draftestablished by the usual means or through the medium of steam-jets. Itis also preferable to have a platform structure over the top of thefurnaces, onto which the garbage-carts are driven to permit the garbageto be directly dumped into the incinerating-furnaces.

The entire incinerating structure, including both furnaces, is inclosedby a sheet-iron casing 33, '(see Fig. 4,) having the parts thereof tailsof construction, however, may be varied and the proportions anddimensions modified at will to accommodate plant structures havingvarying capacities.

Ash-doors 25 are also provided on both sides of theincinerating-furnaces in line with the Swill-pans, as. clearly shown byFig. 1. The breechingt at regular intervals between the connections 3will be provided with dampers 1 to permit the use of one or more of theboilers l, as may be desired. The opening 28 in the rear wall of thefurnace is connected by a flue or conduit 28 with the boilers, saidconduit continuing under the boilers and through the furnaces of thelatter, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, to deliver the productsof combustion and gases from either one or both of theincinerating-furnaces to the most advantageous points within the saidboiler-furnaces, and to entirely out off the incineratingfurnaces fromthe boiler -furnaces or battery of boilers and permit the latter to beused independently of the said incinerating-furnaces a damper 28 issuitably ar ranged in the opening 28 or in the flue 28*and exteriorlyoperative.

The advantages of the improved incinerating-furnaces and cooperatingpower-generating devices are manifold and have heretofore been partiallyset forth. One of the most essential advantages in the operation justexplained is complete combustion and destruction of all offensive gaseswith an even distribution of heat throughout the entire area of each ofthe furnaces 5 and 6, thus insuring the destruction of all garbagedumped into the rear end of each furnace as fully as the garbagedeposited near the fire. Convenience in arrangement and economy inexpense of installment are also material points in view of the fact thatany type of boiler in the battery of boilers may be used. The headersand water grates or members 17 are similar to those used in the ordinarydowndraft-furnaces, and the remaining elements can all be bought in theopen market and do not require aspecific construction to adapt them foruse in the furnaces. No firebrick or tile is used in connec-' tion withthe garbage-receiving grates, and the inconvenience resulting from theliquid or moist garbage contacting with highly-heated brick or tile isobviated.

The several parts of the incinerating-furnaces will be constructed inthe most convenient and practical inanner; but a preferred constructionor arrangement of the watergrates is illustrated by Fig. 5. As beforedescribed, the tubular members or grate-bars 17 are threaded into theintermediate or central enlarged header 19, and in applying the saidtubular members or grate-bars they are inserted through openings 35 and36 at diametrically opposite points in the outer headers 18, the upperends of the said grate-bars being expanded into the lower openings 36 ofsaid outer headers. The outer openings 35 have closing-nipples 37 andare of such diameter that the grate members 17 can be insertedtherethrough and also through the openings 36, and after assemblage ofthe grate-bars in the manner set forth the nipples are applied to thesaid outer openings.

The most essential feature of the improved apparatus is theright-angular arrangement of the incinerating-furnaces 5 and 6, and theadvantage gained by such disposition of the furnaces is the increasedlength of travel given the heated gases, permitting theincinerating-furnace 6, or second unit, to not only consume the unburnedgases from the first furnace 5, but also to assist the draft and permitan easy firing of all the furnaces of both units. Another importantadvantage is the arrangement of the incinerating-furnaces in operativerelation to the battery of boilers and their furnaces for practicalemployment or utilization of the waste gases for steamraising purposes,yet have the parts so constructed that the battery of boilers may beused alone at times when the incineratingfurnaces are not in operation.It has been found that no incinerating plant can be very successful ifit does not provide for a utilization of the Waste gases and of thedisposition of the incinerating-furnaces in angular relation asspecified, whereby waste gases are given a greater range of travel andcumulative in the second incinerating-furnace or the latter nearest tothe battery of boilers. Outer water jackets are also dispensed with, andthe disadvantages incident to such jackets are overcome in the presentincinerating-furnace structure by non-use of such devices. The use of anauxiliary furnace is not required in the present structure, andconsequently the expense in this direction is further avoided, as wellas the unsatisfactory operation of auxiliary furnaces.

The ashes deposited in the bottom of the incinerating-furnaces may beprofitably disposed of and used for fertilizing purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Anincinerating-furnace having a firegrate at one extremity, a garbage orrefuse receiving grate disposed intermediatcly thereof and at a higherelevation than the [iregrate, a rear offset below the plane of thegarbage or refuse receiving grate having an outlet means therethrough,the offset being in rear of both grates and reducing the vertical extentof the rear portion of the furnace and the outlet therethrough formingthe sole escape for the products of combustion of both grates, and asecond incinerating-furnace arranged at an angle to the first-namedfurnace and having communication with the outlet means through the saidoffset, the second incinerating-furnace also having rear outlet means.

2. An incinerating-furnace having "a firegrate at one extremity, agarbage or refuse receiving grate disposed intermediately thereof and ata higher elevation than the firegrate, a rear offset below the plane ofthe garbage or refuse receiving grate having outlet means therethrough,the offset being in rear of both grates and reducing the vertical extentof the rear portion of the furnace and the outlet therethrough formingthe sole escape for the products of combustion from both grates, asecond incinerating-furnace of similar construction arranged at an angleto the first-named furnace and having communication with the outletmeans of the latter, and a by-pass connecting the outlet means of thefirst-named furnace and the rear extremity of the second furnace.

3. An incinerating-furnace having a firegrate at one extremity, anintermediate garbage or refuse receiving grate disposed at a higherelevation than the fire-grate, garbage or refuse receiving hoppers inthe top of the furnace directly over the intermediate grate, a part ofsaid hoppers having a greater diameter than the remaining ones,swill-pans removably disposed under the intermediate grate, and conduitmeans communicating with the pans and accessible from the exterior ofthe furnace.

4. An incinerating-furnace plant comprising individualincinerating-furnaces disposedin planes at right angles to each otherand having flue communication between the rear of one furnace and theside of the other, the furnaces being capable of independent use andeach having rear outlets provided with closing means, a battery ofpower-generating boilers and furnaces, the latter having directcommunication with the rear outlet of one incinerating-furnace, aby-pass provided with closing means and connected to the rear of bothincincrating-furnaces, whereby one or both of the latter furnaces maycooperate with the battery of generating boilers and furnaces, andoutlet-conduit means forthe boiler-furnaces.

5. A plant of the class set forth consisting of incinerating-furnaceshaving flue communication with each other, power-generating mechanismcomprising abattery of boilers and furnaces, the latter having directcommunication with one of the incinerating-furnaces, and anexteriorly-located by-pass connected to one of the incinerating-furnacesand also communicating with the boiler-furnaces, the flue between theincinerating-furnaces and the by-pass having closing means.

6. A plant of the class set forth consisting of angularly disposedincinerating furnaces provided with communicating means to direct thegases and products of combustion of one to pass into the other,power-generating boilers and furnaces having direct communication withone of the incinerating-furnaces, an exteriorly-located by-passconnected to the other incinerating-furnace and also to theboilerfurnaces, and means for cutting off communication between theincinerating-furnaces and between the latter and the boiler-furnaces topermit independent operation of either of the incinerating-furnaces andthe boiler-furnaces or of the boiler-furnaces independent of theincinerating-furnaces.

7. In a plant of the class set forth, two independently-operativeincinerating-furnaces disposed in planes at right angles to each otherand having an opening directly between them and an exteriorly-locatedby-pass means connecting the same and located exteriorly of bothfurnaces, whereby either one or both furnaces may be operated, andpower-generating boilers and furnaces having direct communication withone of the incinerating-furnaces and also in communication with theby-pass and adapted to receive the gases and products of combustion fromeither one or both of the said incinerating-furnaces.

8. Two incinerating-furnaces disposed in planes at right angles to eachother and having communicating means consisting of openings in the rearof one furnace and through the side of the remaining furnace, and anexterior by-pass conduit connecting the rear portions of the twofurnaces, combined with powergenerating boilers and furnaces incommunication with the incinerating-furnaces, the latter and thepower-generating furnaces being capable of independent operation.

9. Two incinerating-furnaces arranged in planes at right angles to eachother and each having a fire-grate near the front extremity and anintermediate garbage or refuse receiving grate, an opening being formedbetween the rear end of one furnace and the side wall of the otherfurnace adjacent to the garbagereceiving grate, whereby the gases andproducts of combustion of one furnace may pass into the other, thefurnace receiving the gases and products of combustion from the otheralso having a rear outlet means, an exteriorlylocated by-pass connectedto the rear portions of both furnaces, means for cutting offcommunication between the furnace and also shutand power-generatingboilers and furnaces with which one of the incinerating-furnaces hasdirect communication, the outlet connections of the tubular grates beingconnected to the boilers, the boilers and their furnaces and theincinerating-furnaces being capable of independent operation.

11. Two incinerating-furnaces disposed in planes at right angles to eachother and each having a fire-grate and a garbage or refuse receivinggrate, the rear end of the one furnace and the one side wall of theother furnace having a communicating opening therethrough, and bothfurnaces also connected by a by-pass conduit provided with a damper, thefurnace having communication with the rear extremity of the remainingfurnace being. provided with outlet means.

12. Two incinerating-furnaces disposed in planes at right angles to eachother and having similar fire and garbage or refuse receiving grates,the garbage-receiving grates being tubular and having water inlet andoutlet means at opposite extremities, the two furnaces havingcommunicating means so that the gases and products of combustion of onewill pass into the other for consumption, and powergenerating boilersand furnaces with which one of the incinerating-furnaces also hascommunication, the outlet connections of the tubular grates beingattached to the boilers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH Gr. BRANCH.

Witnesses:

N. L. FRosT, WILLIAM R. HUDSON.

